Motor vehicle roof with at least two movable parts

ABSTRACT

A motor vehicle roof having at least two laterally adjacent parts with respect to the motor vehicle&#39;s longitudinal axis when the parts are in a closed position. The laterally adjacent parts may be moved between the closed position and an open position by moving one or both of the laterally adjacent parts in a translational movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The laterally adjacent parts are retained between and parallel to two side roof frames that are permanently connected to the body. The laterally adjacent parts may be moved to an open position above or below a rear roof panel. The rear roof panel extends across the vehicle in a transverse direction between the side roof frames and is movable in a longitudinal direction to a position above or below the laterally adjacent roof panels. A front roof panel may be provided that may be raised on a back edge to provide a wind deflector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle roof that has severalmovable panels that may be moved independently or between a closedposition and a variety of open positions.

2. Background Art

Motor vehicle roofs are available that include retractable hard tops,convertible tops, hard tops having sun roofs, and hard tops havingremovable targa tops.

One example of a hard top motor vehicle roof is disclosed in publishedGerman application DE 101 13 427 A1 that has two rigid parts that aredisposed next to one another with respect to the longitudinal axis ofthe vehicle when the roof is closed. The panels are stored in a storagecompartment at the back of the vehicle when the roof is open. Theposition of the parts may be changed by means of a kinematic movementsystem so that only the A pillars and windshield project above the beltline of the vehicle when the roof is open. No other roof parts arelocated above the belt line except the windshield and windshield frame.

Another prior art roof system is disclosed in the publication DE 94 06435 U1 that describes a vehicle roof that is solidly connected to thebody of a vehicle and has a roof opening that is directly adjacent tothe windshield frame. Two roof parts may be inserted into the opening sothat they lie next to one another. The roof may be converted into atarga position by manually removing one of the roof parts from the roofopening. This roof concept does not allow for converting the roof to aconvertible position.

Another prior art motor vehicle roof is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,801,174 that discloses a transparent roof plate which can be movedwith a translational motion between a closed position and an openposition. The transparent roof plate is moved within the confines of aside roof frame that is permanently fastened to the body. The roof plateis pushed beneath a back roof plate to open the roof.

The present invention is directed to the problem of creating a motorvehicle roof that exposes a large roof opening in an open position andwhich is movable to a closed position with minimal effort. There is alsoa need for a roof that can be arranged in a number of different openpositions.

These and other problems are addressed by Applicant's invention assummarized below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, at least two laterally adjacentmovable parts of the motor vehicle roof are arranged in a closedposition to lie next to one another with respect to the vehicle'slongitudinal axis. The two laterally adjacent movable parts are arrangedparallel to the side roof frame that is permanently fastened to the bodyof the vehicle. The two laterally adjacent movable parts are moved in asimple translational motion to change the roof from its closed positionone of several its open positions.

According to another aspect of the invention, the two laterally adjacentmovable parts of the roof can be moved by a motor drive. The twolaterally adjacent movable parts can be relatively small because theyare disposed next to one another. Even though relatively small roofparts are provided, a large roof opening can be provided because eachpart extends between the side frame immediately adjacent to the roofpart and the middle of the roof. Both laterally adjacent roof partsborder one another in the middle of the roof. The laterally adjacentroof parts have less surface area than roof parts which extend over theentire width of the roof because they extend across only half of thewidth of the roof. The weight of each roof part may be minimized andless force is required to drive each roof part to a desired position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the roof parts may berepositioned to provide different roof opening positions. For example,in one embodiment of the invention, the laterally adjacent roof partslie next to one another and may be moved to open positions independentlyof one another. The laterally adjacent roof parts are laterally adjacentwhen they are in their closed position but may be offset in thefore-and-aft direction when one or both panels are shifted to their openposition. The driver may open only the roof part located over thepassenger seat while leaving the roof part arranged immediately over thedriver seat in a closed position.

While according to one embodiment of the invention, the laterallyadjacent roof parts may be movable in the direction of the vehicle'slongitudinal axis. Alternatively, it is also possible for the laterallyadjacent roof panels to be moved in the vehicle transverse directionwhich is transverse to the vehicle's longitudinal axis. If the panelsare movable in the transverse direction, the roof parts may be arrangednext to one another when closed and moved laterally into a position withthe panels lying above one another. The laterally adjacent roof partsmay be moved in the longitudinal direction or transverse direction topermit opening and closing the roof either only in the area above thedriver seat or only in the area above the passenger seat. It is possibleto move the roof panels in either a longitudinal or transverse directionto form a stack of roof parts with roof parts lying above one another.The stack of roof parts can be moved to expose the entire area of theroof opening.

A longitudinal member may be securely fastened to the body in the middleof the roof opening. The inside edges of the laterally adjacent roofparts may be guided or supported by the longitudinal member. Thelongitudinal member may provide substantially more stability and mayalso simplify the movement of the laterally adjacent roof parts from theclosed position into the open position. For example, each roof part canbe guided with respect to the roof sections fastened to the body onthree bearing units. Two of the bearing units may lie on the outsidefront and outside back areas, respectively, and one bearing unit may lieon the inside front side area of each roof part. The later bearing unitmay be supported by the central longitudinal member that is fastened tothe body. To open the roof, the movable parts may be moved in thedirection of the vehicle's longitudinal axis. If the parts are moved inthe direction of the longitudinal axis, each roof part's inner frontbearing unit that is supported and guided on the longitudinal member cantravel along the longitudinal member toward the back of the vehicle.When one of the laterally adjacent roof parts is open, the outer backbearing unit may be disposed in the back area of the roof frame and theinner front bearing unit may be located at the back of the centrallongitudinal member.

According to another aspect of the invention, each bearing unit maycomprise a roller or a low-friction sliding block that is guided in theouter side frame and the central longitudinal member.

In another embodiment of the invention, the laterally adjacent two roofparts may be arranged next to one another and may be bordered by a backroof part that is also movable with a translational motion in thedirection of the vehicle's longitudinal axis. The back roof part can bemoved independently of the other roof parts to provide additional roofopening arrangements. For example, it is possible to leave the two frontroof parts lying next to each other in a closed position and move theback roof part forward and either beneath or above the two front parts.This may result in an opening in the roof above the back passenger area.It is also possible to move the two front roof parts partiallyrearwardly and move the back roof part partially forwardly to create asmaller opening in the front roof section and a smaller opening in theback roof section with the laterally adjacent and rear roof partsremaining between the front and back open roof sections.

According to another aspect of the invention, one or more roof parts maybe made of a transparent material such as, for example, polycarbonate orglass. By using a transparent material for the roof part the vehicleinterior may be provided with light through the roof part into thevehicle interior even when the motor vehicle roof is in its closedposition. The above aspects and other advantages of the variousembodiments of the invention will be better understood in view of theattached drawings and following detailed description of the illustratedembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle roof with side roofframes that are permanently secured to the body that has movablelaterally adjacent roof parts located between the roof frames and lyingparallel to the motor vehicle's longitudinal axis and a back roof partthat extends over the entire width of the roof with all of the roofparts being shown in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the motor vehicle roof of FIG. 1 shownin a partially open position with one of the front side roof parts movedrearwardly over the back roof part;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the motor vehicle roof of FIG. 1 shownin an open position with the two front roof parts moved back and overthe rear roof part;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the motor vehicle roof of FIG. 1 shownin an open position with the back roof part moved forward under thefront roof parts;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the motor vehicle roof of FIG. 1 shownin an open position in which the two front roof parts are movedpartially rearwardly over the back roof part to form an opening both infront of the two front roof parts and with the back roof part pushedforward to form an opening in back of the back roof part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to FIG. 1, a motor vehicle roof is illustrated that has sideroof frames 2 that are permanently connected to the body of the motorvehicle. The side roof frames 2 merge into the body's A-pillars 4 in thefront area of the motor vehicle. The side roof frames merge into thebody's C-pillars 5 in the back area of the motor vehicle. Roof parts 6,7, 8 and 9 lie in a roof opening that may be selectively covered by theroof parts 6-9. Front roof part 6 is located adjacent to a cross member10, or header, of the windshield frame of the vehicle. Front roof part 6extends between the two roof frames 2 and 3 and spans the entire widthof the roof. Two parallel, or laterally adjacent, roof parts 7 and 8 areprovided behind front roof part 6. Roof parts 7 and 8 may also bereferred to as side front roof parts. Roof parts 7 and 8 are disposedparallel to the motor vehicle's longitudinal axis and extend across halfof the width of the roof. Back roof part 9 is disposed in the roofopening behind the two laterally adjacent roof parts 7 and 8 and betweenthe two roof frames 2 and 3.

Front roof part 6 is disposed in the opening and may be connected to thebody so that it is immobile relative to the body. Alternatively, roofpart 6 may be designed to be shifted to a position with the back edge ofthe roof part 6 being raised to function as a wind deflector.

The two roof parts 7 and 8 are disposed laterally adjacent to oneanother and are movable. The roof parts 7 and 8 may be moved between aclosed position, shown in FIG. 1, and several different open positions.One or both of the roof parts 7, 8 may be pushed backward in atranslational motion parallel to the motor vehicle's longitudinal axis.The roof parts 7 and 8 may be designed to move above or beneath the backroof part 9. Roof parts 7 and 8 lie next to one another and can be movedindependently of one another. Back roof part 9 may also be moved fromthe closed position, shown in FIG. 1, to an open position in which roofpart 9 is pushed forward in a translational motion parallel to the motorvehicle's longitudinal axis. Roof part 9 may be shifted to a positionabove or below roof parts 7 and 8 to open a back roof portion of theroof opening.

Roof parts 7 and 8 are arranged laterally adjacent to one another andbetween the associated side roof frames 2 and 3, respectively. A middlelongitudinal member 11 may be provided that lies in the roof opening andis aligned with the motor vehicle's longitudinal center plane. Thelongitudinal member may be permanently connected to the body in themotor vehicle roof and run between the two cross members 12 and 13.Cross members 12 and 13 extend in the transverse direction between theside roof frames 2 and 3 to span the entire width of the roof. The frontcross member 12 is located in the area of the back edge of the frontroof part 6. Front cross member 12 forms a support for the front edge ofthe two roof parts 7 and 8. Back cross member 13 forms a support for theback edge of the roof parts 7 and 8. Back cross member 13 also forms thefront edge of the back roof part 9. The two cross members 12 and 13 andthe connecting longitudinal member 11 form an H when viewed in thetransverse direction in a top plan view.

Each of the roof parts 7 and 8 have three bearing points or bearingunits 7 a, 7 b, 7 c and 8 a, 8 b, and 8 c. Each of the roof parts 7 and8 is mounted by the bearing units 7 a-7 c and 8 a-8 c, respectively. Thebearing units 7 a-7 c and 8 a-8 c may be made in the form of rollers orlow-friction sliding blocks. Roof part 7 has outboard bearing units 7 aand 7 b. Roof part 8 has outboard bearing units 8 a and 8 b. The thirdbearing units 7 c and 8 c are disposed in the inner-front area of roofparts 7 and 8, respectively. Outer bearing units 7 a, 7 b, and 8 a, 8 bmay travel along side roof frames 2 or 3. Inner bearing units 7 c and 8c can travel along the middle longitudinal member 11. When the roofparts 7 and 8 are moved rearwardly to their full open position, innerbearing units 7 c and 8 c are moved on the longitudinal member 11 to thevicinity of the back cross member 13.

Referring to FIG. 2, roof part 8 on the right side of the longitudinalmember 11 is moved toward the back to open a roof section above thepassenger seat. Roof part 8 is disposed in its open position above backpart 9. Back part 9 is shown in its closed position in FIG. 2. The backroof part 9 can be displaced in height to facilitate moving roof parts 7and 8. For example, the front edge of roof part 9 may be raised topermit roof parts 7 or 8 to be moved to a position below the roof part 9or may be lowered to permit roof parts 7 and 8 to slide over roof part9. As illustrated, roof part 8 is disposed above back roof part 9 inFIG. 2. This may be facilitated by lowering the back roof part 9.

Referring to FIG. 3, adjacent roof parts 7 and 8 are shown in their openposition. Roof parts 7 and 8 may be shifted rearwardly to open portionsof the roof opening above the driver seat and above the passenger seat.Both roof parts 7 and 8 are disposed next to one another after beingshifted rearwardly and are disposed above the back roof part 9. As shownin FIG. 3, back roof part 9 is in its closed position.

Referring to FIG. 4, the two roof parts 7 and 8 are disposed in theirclosed position next to one another and adjacent to the front roof part6. Back roof part 9 is shown in its open position. Back roof part 9 isshown after being shifted forwardly into a position in which it isdisposed beneath roof parts 7 and 8 to open a portion of the roofopening comprising the back of the roof opening.

Referring to FIG. 5, roof parts 7 and 8 are shown disposed next to oneanother and displaced partially toward the back into a partially openposition. Back roof part 9 is shown being displaced forwardly into apartially open position. Roof parts 7 and 8, and roof part 9 form astack of roof parts, with roof part 9 lying beneath roof parts 7 and 8.In this position, a front and a rear portion of the roof opening areopened.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described,it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe allpossible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in thespecification are words of description rather than limitation, and it isunderstood that various changes may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

1. A motor vehicle roof comprising: at least two laterally adjacentmoveable roof parts that are disposed next to one another in a closedposition with respect to the motor vehicle's longitudinal axis, themovable roof parts being movable between a closed position and an openposition, the roof parts are laterally adjacent to one another in theclosed position and are retained between side roof frames that arepermanently secured to the body, each of the laterally adjacent roofparts may be shifted in a translational motion between the open andclosed position.
 2. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1 wherein thelaterally adjacent roof parts may be moved independently of one another.3. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1 wherein the laterally adjacent roofparts may be moved in a direction parallel to the vehicle's longitudinalaxis.
 4. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1 wherein the roof opening hasa central longitudinal member and is closed by a front roof part, a rearroof part and the laterally adjacent roof parts.
 5. The motor vehicleroof of claim 4 wherein the laterally adjacent roof parts are eachguided with respect to the roof sections that are permanently secured tothe body on first bearing units lying in the outer front area of thelaterally adjacent roof part, a second bearing unit lying in the outerback area of the laterally adjacent roof parts, and a third bearing unitdisposed in the inner front area of laterally adjacent roof parts,wherein the third bearing units are guided on the central longitudinalmember.
 6. The motor vehicle roof of claim 1 wherein a rear roof part isprovided that is rearwardly adjacent the laterally adjacent roof parts.7. The motor vehicle roof of claim 6 wherein the rear roof part isarranged behind the two laterally adjacent roof parts.
 8. The motorvehicle roof according to claim 6 wherein an edge of a forwardlyadjacent roof part or a rearwardly adjacent roof part is moved in avertical direction to provide clearance for opening one or both of thelaterally adjacent roof parts.
 9. The motor vehicle roof of claim 6wherein the back roof part is movable in a translational motion alongthe motor vehicle's longitudinal axis.
 10. The motor vehicle roof ofclaim 9 wherein the rear roof part may be opened by moving it above orbeneath the two laterally adjacent roof parts.
 11. The motor vehicleroof of claim 6 wherein the laterally adjacent roof parts and the rearroof part can be moved into an open position at the same time.
 12. Themotor vehicle roof of claim 11 wherein the two laterally adjacent roofparts lie next to one another and the rear roof part may be disposedeither above or below the laterally adjacent roof parts when any of theroof parts is in an open position.
 13. The motor vehicle roof accordingto claim 1 further comprising a front roof part mounted in front of thetwo laterally adjacent roof parts.
 14. The motor vehicle roof accordingto claim 1 wherein at least one roof part is made of a transparentmaterial.
 15. The motor vehicle roof according to claim 14 wherein theroof part is made of polycarbonate.
 16. The motor vehicle roof accordingto claim 14 wherein the roof part is made of glass.